Gene Link to Depression Among European Ancestory Found

Fresh evidence for an inherited risk for depression, uncovers 17 genetic variations which is linked to major depressive disorder (MDD).

The discovery should boost understanding of the biology behind MDD and open up paths for treating it, the team wrote in the journal Nature Genetics.

Gene Link to Depression Among European Ancestory Found

MDD, also known simply as depression, is considered a mental disorder that most experts believe is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

‘According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is one of the main causes of disability worldwide, affecting some 350 million people. It can cause mood changes, fatigue and loss of sleep and appetite.’

The new study is the first to see genetic associations with MDD among people of European ancestry. The only previous DNA evidence had been found in Asians.

"We hope these findings will help people understand that depression is a brain disease with its own biology," said Roy Perlis of the Massachusetts General Hospital, who co-authored the study.

"Now comes the hard work of using these new insights to try to develop better treatments," he said in a statement.

The team used data available online of the genetic profiles of more than 450,000 people, shared voluntarily for purposes of exactly such research.

Among them, some 121,000 reported a history of depression.

The shared genetic variants were on locations of the genome involved in the birth of neurons in the developing brain, the researchers said.

Elisabeth Binder of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology said the study was a breakthrough in the genetics of depression.

It represents "a first glimpse of light on the horizon for clinicians and patients that in the future we may be able to base diagnoses and treatment on biology," she said via the Science Media Centre in London.

But Jonathan Flint of the University of California in Los Angeles, noted the people in the study had themselves reported their depression history, rather than providing a formal medical record.

As a result, the observed association "may have nothing to do with major depressive disorder," Flint cautioned.

Your comments are automatically posted once they are submitted. All comments are however constantly reviewed for spam and irrelevant material (such as product or personal advertisements, email addresses, telephone numbers and website address). Such insertions do not conform to our policy and 'Terms of Use' and are either deleted or edited and republished.Please keep your comments brief and relevant.This section may also have questions seeking help. If you have the information you are welcome to respond, but please ensure that the information so provided is genuine and not misleading.

Disclaimer - All information and content on this site are for information and educational purposes only. The information should not be used for either diagnosis or treatment or both for any health related problem or disease. Always seek the advice of a qualified physician for medical diagnosis and treatment.Full Disclaimer